Roughnecks Await the Swarm
January 26, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
Calgary, AB - The Minnesota Swarm, the team with the most fighting majors in the National Lacrosse League this season, brings its troops into the Pengrowth Saddledome tomorrow night (Saturday, January 27).
"Minnesota does not mind dropping the mitts," Kurt Silcott, the Calgary Roughnecks General Manager, said today, "and rest assured we will be waiting for them. If they want to play it rough, let it be on their heads."
The Swarm (1-2) had no real scraps in its first outing of the campaign, but then had three in its last two games.
"I'm expecting the fists to fly," added Silcott, "as they certainly have some willing combatants.
"Mike Kilby is a big tough kid who's always looking to stir things up, and I'm willing to bet he and our Ryan McNish will have more than a chat when they meet."
Calgary (2-1) enter the game fresh from a 17-13 thrashing of the Colorado Mammoth, the reigning NLL champions, last Saturday.
But they also have in mind the humiliating 8-12 home loss they sustained at the hands of the Swarm in 2006.
"The Colorado win was great for morale," said Silcott, "but that's ancient history. What matters now is that we put the boots to Minnesota.
"They're a good, young team and have an outstanding goalie in Nick Patterson. We cannot take them lightly. Not once this year have we led after the first quarter. Tomorrow, I'd like to see us get all over them early, so we don't have to play catch up."
Two of the Minnesota squad have strong ties to the Calgary area.
Defenceman Andrews Biers was born and bred here and even played for the Roughnecks in 2005 and for part of 2006.
In the Swarm's year book, he calls Calgary captain Tracey Kelusky his toughest opponent in the NLL.
Another d-man, Riley Kemp, was born in High River and has not missed a game for Minnesota (a streak of 36) since entering the NLL at the start of the 2005 season.
Nolan Heavenor, one of the Roughnecks two face-off specialists, was with the Swarm in 2006. He came to Calgary in the off-season in exchange for 2nd and 3rd round picks in the 2006 NLL entry draft.
In a scant five games for Minnesota, he collected three goals, one assist and two penalty minutes.
He's played in all three of Calgary's games in 2007 and has already registered three goals, three assists and 10 penalty minutes.
"Nolan is a solid young player who contributes to our team in many ways," said Silcott. "He plays offence, defence, transitions the ball well and takes face-offs. He's one of the few all-around players in the league and his multiple abilities allow us to be very flexible with our game plan ."
During the summer, Heavenor plays with the Victoria Shamrocks with whom he won the Mann Cup in 2005.
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Tomorrow night's game will be televised 'live' on Shaw TV, with repeats at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday (January 28).
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National Lacrosse League Stories from January 26, 2007
- Wings Soar Past Titans 16-11 - Philadelphia Wings
- Rochester host New York Saturday, - NLL
- Roughnecks Await the Swarm - Calgary Roughnecks
- 2007 NLL All-Star Balloting Begins - Buffalo Bandits
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